Democratic Delegate Luiz Simmons talks about how he has changed his position on the death penalty. Download This File

The House Judiciary Committee has approved legislation to repeal Maryland's death penalty.

The vote was 14-8, with the panel's seven Republicans and Western Maryland Democratic Delegate Kevin Kelly voting against the bill, and 14 Democrats voting in favor of it..

Like their counterparts in the Senate, opponents proposed amendments to allow the death penalty in certain cases, and like the Senate, those amendments were rejected.

The bill now goes to the full House of Delegates where a final vote is expected next week.

Roll Call of Committee Vote

The House Judiciary Committee voted 14-8 to approve SB 276, the bill which repeals the death penalty. Fourteen Democrats voted in favor of the bill. Seven Republicans and one Democrat voted against it.